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Los Angeles Fire Department
Historical Archive


Fireman Warren E. Tilson
Engine Company 61
A Platoon
Appointed November 7, 1959
Died August 14, 1965
Watts Riots
Died of injuries when building wall
and marquee collapsed.
Shop-Rite Market
120th Street and Central

* * * * * * * * * *


Killed in Action
Warren E. Tilson
Rescued
Robert L. Laxague

FIRE FIGHTER KILLED
WHEN WALL COLLAPSES

    Los Angeles City fire fighter Warren E. Tilson, 31, was killed instantly when a wall of a fire weakened structure fell on him.
    Location of the fire was 120th Street and Central Avenue.  It was one of the hundreds of fires set during the riots on the night of August 13.
    Tilson is survived by his wife, Carole, who is expecting a child in September.
    The members of Local 748 share the deep grief of all fire fighters for a departed brother who gave his life in service to the community.  We extend our condolences to his family.
    Another member of Local 748, Robert Laxague, narrowly missed death when he was trapped under the same wall.  Rescuers feared that Laxague might drown in the water under the debris even if he were not crushed.
    Though Laxague was extensively and painfully bruised, he left the hospital to attend the last rites of his comrade.  Both men were assigned to Engine 61-A

 

Rioting Mobs Burn Hundreds of Buildings

    Beginning August 12 and for several days the fire fighters of Los Angeles fought hundreds of major fires under riot conditions.  Rioters set the fires by hurling "Molotov cocktails," glass bottles of gasoline with rags stuffed in the necks which serve as wicks.
    Rioters sought to "protect" the fires they started. While responding and while working our men were pelted with rocks, bricks and bottles.  On many occasions heavy gunfire forced fire fighters to discontinue response or to retreat from fires.
    Extent of the fire problem is indicated by the following figures: Area involved--about 50 square miles; 209 buildings totally destroyed; several hundred more partially burned; over 2,000 guns confiscated by police; and, over 4,000 arrests.
    Police and National Guard units tried to provide protective cover for fire fighters.  Sniper tactics made protecting most difficult.
    In several areas there were pitched battles between guardsmen and snipers.  Such locations were untenable for fire fighters and some fires had to remain unfought.
    Numerous fires were out of control when fire units arrived.  Exposures which were saved sometimes got the torch after fire fighters left.  Many good stops were later re-ignited.

FIREMAN MALEN W. JACOBS
FIREMAN FRANK J. HARRISON

AWARD OF BRAVERY

On August 13, 1965 Fireman Frank J. Harrison and Fireman Malen W. Jacobs were awarded the Medal of Bravery by the City of Los Angeles for performance, at extreme risk and beyond the call of regular duty. These  members forced themselves through a narrow opening over debris to rescue Fireman Robert L. Laxague and attempt a  rescue of Fireman Warren E. Tilson. Their acts were in the highest tradition of the fire service and reflect great credit to this Department. 

   

 

|| 8-13-65 7;45 AM WESTLAKE

SPECIAL NOTICE TO ALL COMPANIES Q 1;40 PM FROM WESTLAKE
HAVE YOUR EVENING MEAL COMPLETED BY 5:30 PM TODAY AS YOU MAY BE MOVING!!|||-,2
  
  || ACTIVITY NOTICE
|| ALL OUTSIDE DRILLS AND COMPANY FIRE PREVENTION IS CANCELLED UNTIL||
 || FURTHER NOTICE PER H C JOHNSON PLATOON COMMANDER

||  M1 S1 V1 W1

|| 8-14-65 || 10:02 AM 

|| DEATH NOTICE
||  FIREMAN WARREN E TILSON WAS KILLED AT APPROXIMATELY 2:30 AM THIS
|| DATE WHILE FIGHTING A SUPERMARKET FIRE AT 120TH ST AND CENTRAL AVE
||  FIREMAN TILSON WAS APPTD TO THE L A F D ON 11-7-59 AND WAS
|| ASSIGNED TO ENGINE 61-A PLATOON
  ||  THE FLAG WILL BE PLACED AT HALF STAFF

|| FLAG SIGNAL HALF-STAFF

 

RECOLLECTIONS OF MALEN (JIM) JACOBS, Truck Company 28

Frank J. Harrison, Jr. of Truck 3 and I were working on a recall company (put into service due the riot) at the scene of the structure collapse that had trapped two fellow firemen, Robert Laxague and Warren E. Tilson.  The marquee and concrete front wall of a market had collapsed outward onto the sidewalk and into the gutter.  The Department heavy utilities ( HU6 and HU27) were both called to the scene for their jackhammers and other heavy rescue equipment.  Fearing further injury to the firemen under the wreckage, fireman Harrison and I decided to try and locate the men prior to using the jackhammers.  We took off our turnouts and even our shoes and squeezed into a tiny space in the gutter under the debris.  Crawling with our shoulders pressed against the curb with me leading the way we found Warren Tilson lying on the sidewalk, under the debris, deceased.  A short distance ahead we found Bob Laxague in the gutter like ourselves but cured in a fetal position.  He was alive but firmly pinned by the concrete debris and unable to move.  It was decided to try and lift the debris instead of jack hammering down to him.  I asked for a hydraulic jack which was passed to Frank Harrison and from him to me.  The space was so tight that I had to use my toes to pull the jack forward, gradually working it past my body and in position.  The same process was used for (shoring) blocks and the jack handle.  The long tedious process paid off, the jack was strong enough to take the pressure off fireman Laxague.  I grabbed Laxague and pulled him free and hung onto him while Harrison pulled me by the feet.  We were able to inch our way out from under the debris safely.

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